Journal of the Music &
Entertainment Industry Educators Association

Volume 10, Number 1 (2010)

Whether Sound Recordings Created On or After 1978 Constitute Works Made for Hire Under the Copyright Act of 1976

Stephanie R. TaylorMiddle Tennessee State University

Abstract

Copyright law has a unique provision that allows a copyright author to
terminate or revoke his or her transfer of copyright after a specified period
of time. Works made for hire were specifically excluded from the termination of
transfer provision. One of the most pressing issues facing record labels today
is whether sound recordings constitute works made for hire under the United
States copyright law. This paper addresses the law of termination of transfers
and works made for hire as applied to sound recordings created under typical
exclusive recording agreements with record labels on or after 1978.

Taylor, Stephanie R. “Termination of Copyright Transfers: Whether
Sound Recordings Created On or After 1978 Constitute Works Made for Hire Under
the Copyright Act of 1976.” Journal of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association 10, no. 1 (2010): 77-97. https://doi.org/10.25101/10.4